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I asked, “Are MaryBeth and Melinda coming?” Jason answered, “Dane’s going so MaryBeth is, but Melinda has homework to finish.

” I waited but he didn’t continue. I added, “Plus, she doesn’t really like going on hikes.

” Jason frowned, “Of course she does.” I snorted, “No, she doesn’t…

it’s super obvious… because… well… it is. ” They both looked at each other.

I reminded them, “She got a tick the last time and it really freaked her out… she hasn’t gone hiking in five years… since… the whole tick thing… so it’s obviously about that… when you think about it.” They stared at me and Jason ruffled my hair.

He commented, “You just notice things.” I said, “I’m working on a Supernatural bug repellant… because she used the human one… and we get ticks and bug bites…. I’ve worked with another scientist on a study about how our blood is sweeter… which makes sense…”

Tristan interrupted asking, “What scientist?” I continued, “Under an alias… because…. Obviously, I didn’t use my name…

but Earth Fairies don’t get bitten…. we’ve been trying to ask other Fairies…

I have lines out to the ones who still live in Ireland…

. even though they go back and forth… they really won’t answer though and… ”

Jason cut me off, “Whoa, you’re like running a whole study with people we don’t know. That’s crazy, Ladybug. You can’t do that.” I asked, “Why? I’ve done it… a lot… like… for years…” Tristan yelled, “YEARS?!” He was mad?

Dalton came back in and looked around. He asked, “What’s going on?” Jason answered, “Ladybug is talking to randoms online.” I said, “I mean… scientists… that like… I researched and have boards with… some college students… that might also think I am one… but we have research projects going… so…”

Tristan gaped at me. Dalton asked, “Are you serious?” I frowned.

He waved his hands groaning, “Never mind, I already know you are.” Jason asked, “How the hell did you get an alias?” I answered, “Uhhh I made a bunch of social media pages for someone to look at with student profiles…” Jason asked, “Don’t you have to get into college to have one? ”

I replied, “Technically…. maybe…” Tristan groaned, “Stop asking questions about how she did it. Just stop talking, Ladybug.” I asked, “Why?” Dalton said, “Because you don’t know who is out there on the internet.

” I replied, “I didn’t work with anyone I didn’t research…

and I’m better at it than they are… I looked up credentials…

ok my alias has put out a lot of papers at this point… ”

Jason groaned, “Please stop talking.” I pointed out, “That’s not really a forte of mine… which you know.” Dalton agreed, “Let’s just go hike and talk about other things.” I asked, “Like what?” He replied, “Anything.” I pointed out, “That’s kind of a broad topic.”

Dalton said, “We can talk about that fancy school they are saying you are going to in New York.” I replied, “It’s not fancy. It’s a performing arts school. Fancy would be a boarding school in Europe which I’m certain if mom had a cookie, she’d send me off to as well.”

Tristan argued, “No, she wouldn’t.” Cooper shot me a look that said I wasn’t exactly wrong, which I knew.

The mom monster cookies had special abilities that everyone discounted, but I didn’t.

I still knew there was something wrong with them and they’d refused to acknowledge that throughout the years.

I got lost in my thoughts while we walked.

None of the Covens I’d sent them to ever got back to me.

That was weird enough, because protocol said they should reply.

Ryan Bishop should’ve replied because of protocol and his wife being my mom’s friend.

Not that I’d ever gotten to meet her, but it was true.

Something was going on with those cookies and the coven’s not answering me about them proved it. Maybe one or two got lost in the mail, but fifteen letter requests to look into them didn’t. That was just math and logic.

Dakota asked, “What are you thinking about so hard?” I answered, “Huh? What? Me? Do you mean MaryBeth?” Marybeth snorted, “He does not mean me. I was kissing Dane.” Jason said, “Which I was ignoring so thanks for pointing it out.” She winked, “You’re welcome, nephew.”

I asked, “Is Uncle Duncan coming for Elise’s mating ceremony?

” Tristan answered, “We don’t know. He’s invited, but he’s on a mission with his mate.

” I reasoned, “We could link him.” Jason replied, “You know some packs ask families not to link their family members on missions once they join a new pack. Uncle Duncan’s is one of those packs. ”

I muttered, “Which is a dumb rule.” Dakota chuckled, “Ladybug, you’re being more bug than lady today.” Dalton teased, “You have NO idea brother.” I followed them to the path and grumbled, “No, I’m not. I’m being right. Which I am….a lot.”

“It’s silly to ask us not to link him. It makes me wonder why we can’t. Because he’s not obligated to reply to a link so he’d just have us in his head which would soothe his wolf in any situation. It feels shady… and it’s not a protocol either. It’s just that pack’s rule. I checked.”

Jason stopped and turned around. He said, “Whoa, hold up. You checked what?” I answered, “The Werewolf Supernatural clauses for packs… and the Supernatural Council’s.

There is no rule that dictates that. Some packs have adopted it, but most are considered shady by the Werewolf Council.

” Tristan groaned, “You can’t call Uncle Duncan’s pack shady. ”

I said, “I mean… technically the Werewolf Council did….and I just repeated it. Which doesn’t really feel the same. Plus, it’s not like they consider the Nashville packs. Or even some in Louisiana. They are just in the murky area, not fully bad… but...”

Jason groaned, “No but’s.” I pursed my lips. MaryBeth nudged me, “Tell me about the shady, murky areas. I’m all ears.” Tristan huffed, “No, you’re not.” MaryBeth retorted, “I will protect my brother how I like. Tell me all the statistics Ladybug.”

I shrugged, “I don’t have enough data sets for statistics yet, but I can say that over one hundred transfers got cut off from their families. All because they started out doing missions when they joined and abided the rules about no linking while on them.”

Tristan stopped walking and so did Dalton and Dakota.

I added, “Uncle Duncan’s missions on average are two point five weeks longer than everyone else’s.

For the transfers his are three point six days longer.

I could give you the hours if you’d like.

” MaryBeth shouted, “WHAT?!” Dane wrapped his arms around her.

I replied, “He said he’s better trained than others.

” Jason groaned, “You told him?” MaryBeth snorted, “Of course she did.” Tristan said, “He’s right.

He is better trained than they are. He’s a Beta wolf.

” I argued, “No, that’s not right either.

They’ve had Alpha blood’s and other Beta blood’s transfer too.

Their Gamma blood’s aren’t sent out as much as Uncle Duncan either.

Uncle Duncan is the one closest to his family though…

which is an interesting data set point.”

Tristan gently said, “You don’t have an unobjective point of view in this.

” I replied, “Which is why I have another group observing my data sets.” They all yelled, “WHAT?!” I frowned, “I mean… it’s true that my objectivity in the study is clouded.

So, I gave the data points I had collected to a third party using code names and situations.

It’s a psychological group study project.

They haven’t rendered their findings… but their analysis is leaning towards me being mostly right. ”

Dalton asked, “Mostly?” I said, “Well, they didn’t get my analysis… where I might… have called the Alpha a few names… along with their pack leadership… so yes… mostly, their analysis is trending towards agreeing with mine. They just don’t feel as strongly as I do about it.”

Jason said, “You can’t just share pack data.

” I pointed out, “They aren’t in packs.” Tristan groaned, “You gave the data to humans?” I replied, “Well, there is a human in the group, but he’s mated to a Supernatural.

It’s a Supernatural college group. It’s not a big deal…

since they don’t know who I am… or that it’s a pack. They think it’s a human study.”

Dalton asked, “Did you tell them that?” I said, “I mean… I implied it in the email… we don’t talk on the phone or anything…

because…” Tristan snorted, “Because we’d hear that.

” I argued, “Umm no… because it’s a chat group…

for ideas and stuff… so… like… the chat is online.

They don’t have each other’s numbers…” I did have theirs.

I hacked all their information using Prince Gunner Cambridge’s papers.

Jason sighed, “Don’t use Uncle Duncan’s life for research.

” I pointed out, “Someone uses everyone’s life for research.

There are roughly over one million scenarios used in the psychological world, human and Supernatural, about Princess Luna Haley Conners.

If someone is going to run them on our family… I really feel like it should be me.”

Dalton gasped. Tristan blinked several times and everyone stopped walking. I pointed out, “It will take us a very long time to get to the destination of this hike if we keep stopping.” Jason asked, “Are you serious? Someone is using Haley’s life like that? Does she know?”

I replied, “If she looked at the studies she would? Prince Gunner definitely knows because he has keywords searched and some of the papers didn’t publish…

because the author died… suddenly… which was totally them.

She’s a public figure, even to humans. Her background fascinates people.

Alpha Eric has killed a lot of tabloid stories and gossip about her… ”